• Encircle the home with well-irrigated areas at least 30 feet on all sides.
• Remove highly flammable vegetation around the home
• Keep trees and shrubs pruned.
• Prune all trees up to 6-10 feet from the ground.
• This aids emergency vehicles quick access to your property.
• Mow lawn regularly.

Plan Your Safety

• Install smoke detectors throughout your home and in the garage.
• Have a working fire extinguisher. Know how to use it.
• Keep important documents in a solid, well-constructed fire-safe, portable container
• Have a travel pack ready for each family member and your pet.
• A travel pack is a suitcase, backpack or gym bag, with a change of clothing, personal needs items, first aid kit, medications, flashlight and batteries.
• Have cash, water and snacks such as energy bars.
• Select family assembly point.
• Know more than one way to evacuate your home.
• Have an alternate route if normal route is not accessible.
• Teach the alternate route to all family members.
• Consider your pet’s protection.

Home Fire Escape Plan Document

Confronted with a Wildfire, Prepare Your Home

• Turn power off to your home.
• Close all windows and doors including inside doors.
• Keep heavily lined drapes or blinds pulled over windows to keep out heat.
• Move overstuffed furniture away from windows and glass doors.
• Gather up your pets, have them ready to evacuate.
• Shut off gas at the meter.
• Keep your radio turned to a local station for reports and evacuation information.
• Contact family and tell them of your plans to leave the house

Rural homeowner can take a number of general fire prevention steps to improve home protection. Fuel reduction is an effective way to reduce wildfire hazards. Blend natural breaks in forest fuels with primary and secondary fuel breaks constructed around your home.

Fire Prevention Tips

• Have a good road to your home.
• The road should be wide enough to provide fire truck access and a safe escape route for you.
• Provide adequate turnarounds, a locked gate could prevent fire trucks from reaching your home.
• Remove dead limbs and brush and trees to reduce the chance of a fire-fallen tree blocking the road.
• Keep debris cleared away from your home and other structures.
• Create a 30’ barrier around your home.
• Don't stack anything flammable along exterior walls such as firewood.
• Set a lawn sprinkler on the roof. 
• CAUTION: Don't turn on the water too early. Shingles dry quickly..
• Maintain an accessible ladder that is capable of reaching the roof of your home and other structures.
• Have a screen over all chimneys.
• Assist the utility company in keeping access to the lines and pole cleared of obstructions.
• Obey all burn regulations and obtain proper permits.
• Never burn when winds are gusty or leave the fire unattended.
• Notify proper authorities of your burn site.
• Have a water hose connected and ready to use when you cook outside.